For eastern Australian agricultural areas as a whole, the 2005-06 season saw near average rainfall despite 2005 winter and spring months being wet prior to dry conditions becoming established from December 2005 onwards. There were some noticeable regional variations with a particularly wet winter-spring 2005 period in large cropping areas of South Australia and in parts of Tasmania. However, in western Victoria and southern Queensland, early rain was more than offset by the dry rest of the year.

The western Australian agricultural areas also experienced regional variation in climatic conditions in 2005-06. Rainfall varied from above average in the wheatbelt areas to well below average along the coast.

CROPS FOR GRAIN

Barley

The total area sown to barley for grain in 2005-06 was 4.5 million hectares. The three main growing states were Western Australia (1.2 million hectares), South Australia (1.2 million hectares) and New South Wales (1.1 million hectares). Production of barley for grain in 2005-06 was 9.6 million tonnes. Major producing states were South Australia (2.6 million tonnes), Western Australia (2.5 million tonnes) and New South Wales (2.3 million tonnes).

Grain sorghum

The total area sown to sorghum for grain in 2005-06 was 792,000 hectares. In Queensland, the main growing state, the area sown was 462,000 hectares, while in New South Wales it was reported as 326,000 hectares. Grain sorghum production in 2005-06 was 2.0 million tonnes. Production in Queensland was 1.1 million tonnes, while in New South Wales it was reported as 887,000 tonnes.

Oats

The total area sown to oats for grain in 2005-06 was 945,000 hectares. The three main growing states were New South Wales (414,000 hectares), Western Australia (281,000 hectares) and Victoria (154,000 hectares). Production of oats for grain in 2005-06 was 1.7 million tonnes. In New South Wales, production was reported as 630,000 tonnes, in Western Australia it was 619,000 tonnes and in Victoria it was 334,000 tonnes.

Rice

The total area sown to rice for grain in 2005-06 was 100,000 hectares. The main growing state was New South Wales with 98,000 hectares. Production of rice for grain in 2005-06 was 982,000 tonnes. In New South Wales, production was reported as 966,000 tonnes.

Wheat

The total area sown to wheat for grain in 2005-06 was 12.7 million hectares. The three main growing states were Western Australia (5.0 million hectares), New South Wales (3.5 million hectares) and South Australia (2.1 million hectares). Production of wheat for grain in 2005-06 was 25.7 million tonnes. In Western Australia, production was reported as 9.6 million tonnes, in New South Wales it was 7.9 million tonnes and in South Australia it was 3.9 million tonnes.

OTHER CROPSCanola

The total area sown to canola in 2005-06 was 996,000 hectares. The three main growing states were Western Australia (462,000 hectares), Victoria (193,000 hectares) and New South Wales (187,000 hectares). Production of canola in 2005-06 was 1.5 million tonnes. In Western Australia, production was reported as 652,000 tonnes, in New South Wales it was 305,000 tonnes and in Victoria it was 275,000 tonnes.

Cotton lint

The total area sown to cotton in 2005-06 was 336,000 hectares. The main growing states were New South Wales (200,000 hectares) and Queensland (136,000 hectares). Production of cotton lint in 2005-06 was 570,000 tonnes. In New South Wales, production was reported as 344,000 tonnes, and in Queensland it was 225,000 tonnes.

Sugar cane

The total area of sugar cane cut for crushing in 2005-06 was 406,000 hectares. Queensland was the main growing state (384,000 hectares). The total quantity of sugar cane crushed in 2005-06 was 38.0 million tonnes. In Queensland 35.3 million tonnes were crushed.

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